LONDON — Britain warned Russia on Wednesday that it was ready to deal with any incursion into its territory after the spy ship Yantar was detected on the edge of U.K. waters north of Scotland.

Defense Secretary John Healey said the Russian vessel had directed lasers at pilots of surveillance aircraft monitoring its activities.

“My message to Russia and to Putin is this: We see you. We know what you’re doing. And if the Yantar travels south this week, we are ready,” Healey said during a speech in London.

The Russian embassy in a statement accused the British government of being “Russophobic” and “whipping up militaristic hysteria," adding that Moscow has no interest in undermining the U.K.’s security.

Healey issued the warning as he made the case for increased defense spending a week be

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